Vegan mum and meat-eater dad reveal how they raise two vegan sons without arguing over their diets – as the movement tears families apart
- A researcher has found that veganism has put a strain on families and couples
- In one instance, vegan parents were not letting non-vegan grandparents babysit
- New converted vegans in a couple also became irritant with non-vegan partners
Alexa Hayley (pictured), a Deakin University researcher, discovered that ‘conflict and angst’ had become evident in families and couples with vegans
Choosing to become a vegan could ultimately tear your family apart and put a strain on your relationship, new research suggests.
Alexa Hayley, a Deakin University researcher, discovered that ‘conflict and angst’ had become evident in families and couples with vegans.
She found that some vegan parents were reluctant to let their children’s grandparents look after the youngsters in case they fed them animal products.
‘When grandparents babysit the kids and feed them non-vegan foods, parents can get very distressed by this because there’s this element of feeling that their children have been contaminated,’ Dr Hayley told The Herald Sun.
The researcher said that it can often lead to loss of trust within the family.
In worst case scenarios, the strain can even lead to the grandparents being unable to look after the children anymore.
‘Sometimes they say they won’t be taking the kids back there again because they can’t trust them to look after them,’ Dr Hayley said.
Mother-of-two, Audrey Kasa, (left) who is raising two sons on a vegan diet, said she considers herself lucky that she has found a partner, meat-eater husband Kane Shaw-Johnston, (right) that supported her decision
The 27-year-old mother added that she often looks to dietitions for guidance on her sons’, aged two and three, health
Couples where one is a vegan also come under strain, the researcher said.
However, as long as communication and education is brought into the relationship, Dr Hayley said there’s no reason why a couple with different diets couldn’t work.
Mother-of-two, Audrey Kasa, who is raisng who two sons a vegan diet, said she considers herself lucky that she has found a partner, meat-eater husband Kane Shaw-Johnston, that supported her decision.
The 27-year-old mother added that she often looks to dietitions for guidance on the health of her sons, two and three.
Dr Hayley, who is a vegan herself, said that there is no problem raising young children on a vegan diet, as long as they’re receiving all of the vitamins and minerals needed to flourish.
Dr Hayley, who is a vegan herself, said that there is no problem raising young children on a vegan diet, as long as they’re receiving all of the vitamins and minerals needed to flourish (stock image)